Valor Dictus

Better Than Expected, Breaking Dawn Deserves a Chance

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Twilight. The name alone evokes a different emotion from nearly everyone. Whether a die-hard Twi-hard, a hater of everything vampire or a movie-goer who could care less, this final installment of The Twilight Saga, was not half bad.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) is no longer a human but instead has adopted a new role as mother, to her and Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) half-mortal child, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy). The Cullen family must gather their vampire friends from around the world in order to convince the Volturi that their little bundle of joy is not the monster they have been told she is.

Completely prepared to write another negative article on this sorry excuse for a film franchise, I found myself surprised as the film went on, often forgetting Breaking Dawn: Part 2 was not supposed to impress, just like the rest of them. Despite the male actors claiming there is enough adventure for even the guys to want to see it, this is through and through a romance story.

It seems every flaw the saga has been criticized for in the past has gone through serious change. Stewart even proved she can do more than look depressed, as she fought with vengeance and loved with more than blank stares but with all the traits with which an actor is hired for in the first place.

However, they are still vampires and therefore the blank stares and numerous nearly silent scenes are still a plenty. Maybe intended to be dramatic and meaningful, the final result is a cast seemingly forgetful of the lines they are supposed to be saying.

The special effects are also laughably horrible. Stefanie Meyer did write the novels to include the characters to run and jump through trees at super speeds but despite the combined efforts of the lighting, sound and editing departments, the scenes where running is most prominant are still worth nothing higher than a poorly funded TV show.

The insane success of the films in terms of ticket sales have lead Twilight producers to think a little too highly of themselves. A ten minute intro should not be included simply to showcase names of actors solely known for their unimpressively portrayed roles in this saga. The exit is in a similar fashion and though a nice touch to an extent, seems redundant after such an elaborate intro.

Meyer and the screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg worked together to solve the anti-climatic ending to Breaking Dawn, the novel. There is a major twist which did nothing but improve the lackluster storyline of the final novel. Whether it be Meyer questioning her final writing choice or just a hope to surprise her fans, it made the film worth talking about and such a shocker, a single and long sigh of relief was issued from the general audience after the scene passed. Props Meyer, not only did the actors finally show emotion but the audience did too.

Criticize the books by all means and criticize the last four films but give Part 2 a chance. Music by Christina Perri and an in memoriam to Bella and Edward’s relationship forces even the harshest of nay-sayers to fall, if just for that moment, for a story about a human and a vampire in love.